The Second Wave by Leska Beikircher Read Free Book Online Page A

eyes are the most observant and most relied upon
sense in human beings. Not even the constantly gray skies could
dampen the beauty of Turkey’s colors; and they were all here, in
Byzantium. Whether it was a curtain on a door, a horse’s saddle, a
painting one of the street artists drew with chalk on a house wall,
a set of bracelets, or a softly tinted, almost sheer veil on a
woman’s face; every single thing caused a small explosion in the
beholder’s eyes. Not in any other place on Earth could there be
found a blue so deep, a yellow so saturated, or a red so rich. It
wasn’t just people and buildings, the food was colorful, too. From
the whitest cheese to dried, red saffron threads, every dish seen
seemed to proudly announce itself by its colors. Even the earthen
tones of the buildings were thick with hue. Everything competed
with one another in every shade possible.
    And it all came together in one gigantic,
mind swamping, cacophonous opera called ‘Byzantium Bazaar’. It was
here John were headed to see just how priceless this ticket really
was. But getting to the bazaar was one thing, quite easy, as the
market was open for anyone; finding the right buyer was more
difficult a task, which required knowledge of the scene and knowing
who to trust. Many of the shady figures that lingered around less
frequented back streets were stool pigeons, or worse, con men like
himself.
    Next to Byzantium, Alternearth paled in the
comparison. Everything on the alien planet was light, natural, and
understated. The flowers emitted just the barest hint of fragrance;
the grass and trees seemed almost bashful to show the green of
their leaves; and the only sounds that could be heard were those of
the people who walked its earth, or sometimes a gust of wind that
brushed across a bundle of dry leaves.
    In the medical emergency tent, far away from
any thought regarding Alternearth’s smell, color or sound, Captain
Eleven shook her head decisively.
    “It’s not going to happen,” she told Dr.
Paige, who was currently with her back to Eugenia.
    “She’s one of the original settlers, her
blood tests came back clean—as her doctor I declare her fit to
return to Earth.” Where Summer Paige had a whole hospital and
instruments and better treatment for her patient.
    “No. We don’t know what happened to her. And
as the one responsible for the safety of two planets right now, I
say she’s still a threat.”
    The doctor gave a frustrated sigh, but there
was nothing she could do. The protector was in charge, her word
went.
    “Look at her, Emily.” She softly pointed at
Eugenia. “She is not a danger to anybody.”
    “She remains here in your care, Summer.”
    “At least let me untie her. Even if she
wanted to be a threat, she isn’t in the condition to even get up at
the moment.”
    Eleven shook her head once more. No untying,
at least not until the colony’s hospital wing was ready, and the
patient was behind locked doors. With those last words she left
patient and doctor to themselves.
    Paige sat down on her chair again. “Look at
you, Eugenia.” She patted the woman’s hand reassuringly. “You’re no
threat at all. Emily’s a bit tense today, she’ll come around.
You’ll be allowed up and about in no time, don’t worry.”
    In the meantime, she would stay with her,
mainly because she was the only doctor on this planet, and Eugenia
was her only patient.
    “You and protector Niman,” she corrected
herself. “He fell into a river and sprained his ankle, you know.
Very low pain threshold for a protector.”
    By way of a reaction, Eugenia gave a low moan
and threw up. Summer considered that progress.
    * * * *

Chapter 11: All the Spices of the Orient
    The atmospheric shield around Byzantium
glistened dimly in the scarce sunlight that fell through the clouds
on this gray morning. The area around the city was uninhabited, but
as John walked through vacant villages, he noticed a distinct
difference to the deserted villages of